Obligatory Subject-Verb Inversion: Restrictive Relatives and Other Cases from MSA

Abstract

Abstract

Subject-verb inversion is a common structural phenomenon in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). A subject in an MSA ordinary structure can either occur is pre-verbal or a post-verbal position. That is to say, a subject can optionally undergoes inversion and follow the verb in an MSA ordinary structure. However, there are cases in MSA where the subject obligatory occurs in a post-verbal position. This paper explores some of those cases in which the subject obligatorily follows the verb and examines what such cases have in common and what triggers the mentioned inversion. The paper also provides an account of subject-verb inversion in the case of restrictive relative clauses in MSA.